Abstract
ABSTRACT: In vegetable farming, the reduction in the use of herbicides has been an important factor in the definition of the production system. The objective of this research was to evaluate crop yield of cauliflower cultivars grown on Urochloa decumbens straw mulch, as well as the effect of the association between straw and cultivars on weed management. The treatments were arranged in a 2 x 4 factorial scheme: two managements (with or without U. decumbens straw mulch) and four cauliflower cultivars (Barcelona, Bromus, Júlia and Lisblanc). The experiment used a randomized block design with four replicates. There was no interference of straw mulch on crop yield of cauliflower cultivars. Hybrids Barcelona and Júlia presented yields of 22.0 and 23.9 t ha-1, respectively, and they did not differ from each other. The Bromus and Lisblanc materials did not adapt to the edaphoclimatic conditions of the region, which resulted in reduced cultural control and high weed emergence after weeding. U. decumbens straw had high control of the weed community (581.2 pls m-2 - without straw and 8.3 pls m-2 - with straw). It is concluded that the U. decumbens straw as mulch is an effective tool in integrated management of weeds in cauliflower crops, without interfering with crop yield, and its potential to control weed community density is approximately 98.6%, at 22 days after transplanting. The adaptability of the cauliflower cultivar to the region has a high impact on weed management.
Highlights
Weed interference on cauliflower crop results in high yield losses (Qasem, 2007)
Worth of notice is the low availability of herbicides for vegetable farming; an integrated use of alternative weed control methods is important (Pannacci et al, 2017)
The objective of this research was to evaluate adaptability and crop yield of cauliflower cultivars grown on Urochloa decumbens mulch, as well as the effect of the association between straw and cultivars on weed management
Summary
Weed interference on cauliflower crop results in high yield losses (Qasem, 2007). in recent years, increasing concern for the environment and human health has stimulated the development of non-chemical weed control through the use of physical and cultural methods (Price and Norsworthy, 2013; Cavalieri et al, 2018). Worth of notice is the low availability of herbicides for vegetable farming; an integrated use of alternative weed control methods is important (Pannacci et al, 2017). Because of restrictions on the use of chemicals, mulching can be quite advantageous as a means of weed control (Resende et al, 2005). Brachiaria has been noted for its easy establishment and considerable biomass production during the year, which results in excellent mulch (Timossi et al, 2007). It is generally accessible in cropping areas. It is scarcely used in areas cultivated with vegetables
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